Memorial Day

Memorial Day, like most holidays, means something different to everyone. For some, it's simply a 3 day weekend. For others, it's the start of summer. Some some it's a time to remember those that had served their Country, and for others it's a time to remember all that have passed before us. For me, it's a little bit of all of those....and this year it will be a little bit more. It is a 3 day weekend and it feels like the start of summer. We have always gone to the cemetery in my home town to remember those that have died. The cemetery in that town is the resting place of all 4 sides of my family. Both of my mom's parents and her paternal grandparents. Both of my dad's parents and all 4 of his grandparents are there. Eric has some relatives buried there as well. It certainly gives a person a sense of where they are from.

This is a picture of Billy at the cemetery in about 2001 with his hand over his heart listening to his Grandpa Bill doing a reading. When they were little the big thrill was to grab the empty shells after the 21 gun salute was done. That was the big thrill when I was little too. I wonder how many generations that goes back? I wish I had asked my dad.

This Memorial Day will be an especially hard one. It's not that I don't remember my Dad and think about him everyday, but this day will be the first one that is actually set aside to remember. Hearing his name read with the Army Role of those that have passed is going to be more than tough. My dad wasn't in the Army for very long. He left the hospital with a very bad back a few days before he had to leave for the Army after being drafted. He served from November 7th, 1952 until he was medically discharged on December 12th. He ended up in the infirmary because of his back shortly after arriving in California. When he was able to be on his feet again, his job there was to clean and sterilize the surgical tools. He didn't talk about it very much...but from the letters that he and my mom exchanged I could see what a difficult time it was for them....and can imagine how horrible it was for everyone else that was drafted. It's given me a deeper appreciation of those that have served. I am proud that he served our country as he could. And grateful that he was able to return unharmed.

This handsome young Army man is my dad.

On this Memorial Day, I'll be remembering him...a wonderful man that served his country, as well as the man that loved his family, and the one who was always giving without expecting to get anything in return. A man that always told it as he saw it. Dad, you are so missed. When your name is read today, I'm going to stand tall and strong with the pride that it gives me to say...he's my dad. A day to remember him.

A return to Soccer

Soccer season has returned. Brian and Billy both played soccer when they were really young, pre-kindergarten. Billy continued on to play some travel soccer and probably would have kept playing but we made him chose between travel soccer and travel baseball. I didn't think Brian would play again, but last fall he decided to give it another try.

He's taken some ribbing about only wanting to play because the league is co-ed. He takes it pretty well. We're really happy that he's decided to play again....just because it's fun!

The league is pretty laid back, which is nice. There are a few extra players, so the coach keeps track of the subs and who is playing where.

It's good to see Brian out there running, chasing down the ball, playing as a team, getting some exercise, and most of all smiling about it!

Go Brian! Actually, I'm not much of a yeller...but inside my head I'm yellin' GO BRIAN! :-)

There's a lot of running, there is some resting time. I sometimes have trouble seeing how grown up my little boy is!

Billy hiked over to watch the game. He brought his brother a big jug of Gator Aid...I thought that was pretty sweet. He's telling our friend Bob some big stories here....one can only guess.

Oh yeah, there's a game going on. The boys have been lucky to have such a good friend in Bob coming to watch them play.

GO BRIAN!! The first few years of soccer are co-ed, then they separate the boys and girls during the middle years. In 9th grade it goes back to co-ed. It seems like a great idea.

Everyone plays pretty well together, the focus really does seem to be on the fun. GO BRIAN!

This is my big handsome boy. When did that happen?

Just a couple years ago he was my little handsome boy.

Now he's taller than his dad. Eric was just telling him what a great run he had out there. Big or little, young or old, I think kids always benefit from their parents support. Don't you?

Hey Brian...great game so far. Are you having fun out there? So really, why did you decide to play soccer again?

Was it because of the girls??

All I get is the raised eyebrow. I want answers! Maybe I should ask one of these guys, they might know....

...hmmm....I don't think that they will tell me either. Boys. They never really change do they.

A Day in the Country

Oh my goodness...did you think we'd ever be done with Pella? There were just a lot of things to see there, and not too much new happening here. We did get to the country for a day last weekend. I took a couple of pictures of some colorful birds.

The Blue Jay was the team name for my old High School. The school merged with a neighboring school back in 1992 and the Blue Jays were no more.

I thought that it was a pretty good name for our teams. Go Blue Jays! This one was pretty squawky.

I did a book with pictures of birds last year, I tried and tried but never got a picture of a Blue Jay. Now I did, too late. They seem to be sort of shy and are pretty aware of their surroundings. What are you looking at bird?

The Scarlet Tanagers are at my mom's feeder again this spring. They are such a bright red that they almost glow.

Last spring, my Dad had been in the woods when a bright red bird landed in a branch near the spot where he was working. He was pretty excited about it. He went home for lunch and was telling my Mom about this beautiful red bird.

He was trying to describe it when he looked out the window and said "there it is!" It was at the feeder. I really like the idea of my busy Dad taking time to notice the birds.

The Trillium were blooming in the woods last weekend.

They seem pretty small this year. The hepaticas were too, it was a tough winter. Isn't this little group or Trillium pretty next to the river?

You always know that summer is near when the Trillium have bloomed. Did you know that you are only allowed to pick six? I'd rather just see them blooming in the woods.

It was nice to see the green around the river. This is one of my favorite spots.

Billy likes the river too. He's caught the fishing bug.

He's happy just to cast from the shore. There aren't too many fish right there, but it never hurts to try.

Oh, he looks kind of serious. Do you think he might have a bite? I think he might.

Sure enough, he caught a fish stick....well, maybe it was just a stick. Isn't that where fish sticks come from? Sticks?

A trip to the country isn't complete without a beautiful sunset. This was a beauty.

Enjoy your long weekend! Isn't it nice to be home from Iowa? :-) I think so too.

The Tulips of Pella

The stars of the Tulip Festival truly were the tulips. There were thousands blooming through out the city. There were giant beds of all colors in the parks.

There were glorious varieties planted on the boulevards.

Tulips are bulbs that are planted in the fall. Sometimes you just can't control the outcome. Quite a few of the beds in the Historic village were a little sparse. I wonder if they had the same tough winter that we did. Instead of fretting too much over it, they showed that they have a sense of humor there in Iowa. This sign was in one of the beds.

This one marked another. Where did they go?

The ones that did survive were spectacular.

I don't want to bore you with tons of flower pictures, but wanted to show a few highlights. Isn't this one yummy?

If you do want to see a few more, sit back, click on play and enjoy a little slideshow of the Tulips of Pella. They really were amazing.



I hope that you enjoyed taking this little trip to Pella with me.

I tried to show how fun a little weekend trip can be...especially to Pella. Next year is their 75th anniversary of Tulip Festivals...I have a feeling it will be their best one yet.

A Birthday Today

I thought that we should take a little time away from Pella to celebrate a birthday today. This cute little guy in the wagon is having a birthday. Can you guess who it is?

He grew up in a more innocent time. Don't you love the Land O' Lakes Butter hat?

He grew up in a time without all these electronic things, when a boys biggest worries were how many fish he could catch in a day. Looks like he did pretty well.

The handsome scholar. Do you know who it is yet? He has a grandson named after him.

Little baby Billy was baptised on his grandpa Bill's birthday. It was a very special day 14 years ago.

He might be a Dad and grandpa now, but I think that there is still a lot of that fishing loving boy in his heart....

I know that he's got a big spot in all of our hearts! He is the best Dad, Father-in-law, and grandpa that a family could wish for.

Happy Birthday Bill! We love you!